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Defense Secretary Bob Gates, after hearing that the House Armed Services Committee had included the F136 engine and tacked on caveats to F-35 strike fighter funding in its markup May 19, 2010, of the 2011 defense bill, repeated his veto threat. He told reporters at the Pentagon May 20, 2010, that he's "very concerned" about the committee's markup. The Pentagon for years has tried to kill the F136, and Gates emphasized he has President Obama's backing for a veto. He also targeted the committee's strings, which committee members feel are needed to ensure the Pentagon sticks to its new schedule. Here, two F-35A Lightning II strike fighters arrive at Edwards AFB, Calif., May 17, 2010. They are the first two of a dedicated F-35 flight-test force at Edwards' Air Force Flight Test Center.